In order to give your house its Mediterranean touch, the olive tree should be properly cared for. An essential part of this care is fertilizing the exotic tree. At the right time and with the right fertilizer. There are a variety of commercially available fertilizers, but we will show you the simplest, natural home remedies you can use to fertilize your olive tree.
Fertilize the olive tree with home remedies: Care for the potted plant naturally
Fertilizing is one of the most important aspects of caring for olive trees, especially if they do not live in their native Mediterranean climate. When the plant is properly fertilized, it provides a range of benefits, from improved growth and fruiting to better soil health and longer lifespan.
When should you fertilize the olive trees?
The best time to fertilize the olive tree is early spring, right after the plant has gone dormant. Fertilizing can be done from the moment new shoots appear, as this is a sign of the beginning of the growing season.
A balanced fertilization ensures a good start to the growing season by promoting flower bud development and foliage growth.
When fertilizing, make sure that olive trees are not heavy feeders, so they should not be fertilized during the growing season. Fertilizing in spring is usually sufficient.
Do not fertilize your olive tree during dormancy as this could lead to new and unnecessary growth.
Never apply fertilizer near the trunk as the nitrogen content can cause burns. Apply small amounts regularly and water generously after each use.
Recognizing nutrient deficiencies in olive trees
Olive trees that grow in the ground in Mediterranean regions should generally not be fertilized. However, since most people cultivate olive trees in pots, they can suffer from nutrient deficiencies because the roots do not have much space to develop and absorb the necessary nutrients. Here you will find out how you can recognize this.
- Nitrogen deficiency:If your olive tree suffers from a nitrogen deficiency, it will develop yellow leaves and its growth will be restricted. These symptoms can also be caused by excessive watering and waterlogging, so you should first check the soil before resorting to fertilizer.
- Potassium deficiencycauses wilting leaf tips and dying shoots.
- Calcium deficiency:Olive trees prefer slightly alkaline soil, so if the pH is too low it can result in aYellowing of leaveslead.
- Phosphormangel:This is very rare and appears as a reddish coloring of the leaves.
Signs of a nutrient deficiency can also include a smaller harvest or smaller fruit size.
Fertilize olive trees with coffee grounds
Coffee grounds are a daily waste product in our households, but due to their higher nitrogen content, they are an effective, natural fertilizer. Once you've brewed a cup of coffee, let the grounds dry in a small bowl for a few hours. Then simply add a small amount of coffee grounds to the soil and work it in a little.
Just remember that the coffee grounds decompose and lower the pH of the soil. To raise this, you can add crushed eggshells to the bottom. After whipping, rinse them and mash them with your hands. Let them dry in a sunny place before spreading them on the ground. Use this combination sparingly, 1-2 times a year.
Natural fertilizers for the olive tree in the pot: compost
Compost is the most important organic fertilizer. It is made from garden and food waste, which then decomposes in piles. The compost made from plant or animal remains should first be added to the pot when planting the olive tree. This means the plant has a nutrient reserve for several years. Work a handful of the compost into the substrate when repotting and once every two months.
Fertilize olive trees with home remedies: Epsom salt
Epsom salt is pure magnesium sulfate, which only benefits the olive tree.
Mix a teaspoon of Epsom salt with a liter of water and spray the leaves of the olive tree once or twice a month. This makes them stronger and greener because the Epsom salt stimulates photosynthesis. You can also use the solution as a liquid fertilizer.
Other home remedies to care for the exotic animal
Olive trees benefit a lot from liquid fertilizers, as these often contain significant amounts of nitrogen in addition to the numerous micronutrients. For this reason it is suitablethe nettle manure is perfectfor the supply of the Mediterranean plant as it promotes growth and at the same time keeps pests such as aphids away.
A perhaps unusual fertilizer for the olive tree is nail residue and hair as a substitute for bone meal.
You might also be interested in:Propagating olive trees via seeds or cuttings for beginners
